Art By Mary Hughes

Black Dog Pet Portrait Oil Painting

2010-01-01T14:47:00.000-05:00

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas: Commission

The dog owner especially loved a photo she had of her black dog showing him wet, so that is the one I worked with.

Contact me for commission requests.

Mary Hughes Studio

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Thank you for stopping by Art by Mary Hughes.

Nap Time Ducks On A Dock Oil Painting

2009-12-30T13:52:00.001-05:00

Close up

"Nap Time"

16" x 20" Oil on Canvas: $200.00

It's a summer day and this mother duck was watching over her babies as they napped on a dock on the teal blue lake. The sun was shining and the birds were sneaking a peak at us as we drifted by.

This oil painting measures 16" x 20". It's a stretched canvas and the edges are painted for frameless display. It's signed and dated by the artist.

Click on the photos to take you to purchase site.

Mary Hughes Studio

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Thanks for stopping Art by Mary Hughes!

Dog Pet Portrait Tribute With Ashes

2009-12-26T11:38:00.006-05:00

20" x 20" Oil on Canvas: Commission

A few weeks ago I got an interesting commission order. A lady who had lost the family dog about a year ago was interested in commissioning a portrait for her husband for Christmas. The unusual part of all this was that she wanted to know if I could paint some of his ashes into the painting. This was unusual only to me as I'd never had that request before but I don't doubt it's been done by others many times. We talked about how his name and nick names could be incoporated into the portrait as well. Seeing that he played with tennis balls I thought the names on the balls would fit into the painting nicely. Klondike had unique black makings on his tongue too and we made sure that was part of the portrait. This tribute to this beautiful and much loved dog was a joy to paint.

Mary Hughes Studio

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Thank you for visiting!

Christmas Gift Certificate for Pet Portrait

2009-12-20T11:43:00.004-05:00

Christmas is almost here!!

Want an easy last minute gift? Purchase a gift certificate for a painting and I'll fax it to you the same day. Quick, easy and you'll be giving a most unique gift. Just e-mail me with your request and we'll get it done!

Mary Hughes Studio

e-mail

Thank you for stopping by Art by Mary Hughes

Dog Pet Portrait in Oil

2009-11-27T19:17:00.001-05:00

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas: Commission

Taking Pet Portrait Orders For The Holidays

Gift Certificates available too!!

Mary Hughes Studio

e-mail

Thank you for stopping by Art by Mary Hughes

Youtube Dog and Tootsie Pop Oil Painting

2009-10-24T19:42:00.000-04:00

Just a little "tour" of the painting.

Be sure and scroll down and turn off the sounds of nature before viewing this video.

Youtube Bird Video

2009-10-22T00:07:00.000-04:00

Several people the past few years have asked why I don't show my work on youtube and I finally got around to doing that yesterday. I found music by Kevin MacLeod that I love. It's majestic, old world, colorful and exotic like the birds. I hope you'll enjoy it. I'll put up links to the dog and still life videos in the next couple days too. Scroll down the page to turn off the nature sounds before you listen to the video.

White Dogs & Tootsie Pops Oil Painting

2009-10-14T22:42:00.001-04:00

"White Dogs & Tootsie Pops"

10" x 20" Oil on Canvas

$350.00

Contact me for purchase information: e-mail

These dogs are caught in the act of stealing a human moment. The dog in the middle is doing the "deer in the headlights" look while thinking he's hiding his Tootsie Pop. (Notice the bulge in his cheek?)

The dog on the right is doing the forward stare (if I don't make eye contact they won't see me.)

The dog on the left is giving us the sideways glance while openly enjoying his candy.

Anyone who has lived with dogs has seen these looks!

Edges are painted red with white Tootsie Pop lettering and art.

Thank you for visiting Art by Mary Hughes

Antique Hull Woodland Pottery for Sale

2009-09-11T23:27:00.000-04:00

If you're a "Hull" pottery fan, I have listed a Hull Woodland Ewer on E-bay that goes off on Monday. It's in perfect condition! Click on the picture to take you to the page. It may make it's way into a painting one of these days.

Pet Portrait Commission

2009-09-03T21:26:00.000-04:00

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas: Commission

Accepting commissions for the holidays.

Mary Hughes Studio

e-mail

Thank you for visiting!

Boo Boo and Bat Girl Painting Missing

2009-08-28T19:26:00.000-04:00

24" x 36" Oil on Canvas: Commission

If you think you've seen these faces before on my blog and elsewhere you have. Back in February of this year their painting (below) was on it's way to Texas to hang in their home. The large painting mysteriously disappeared between Michigan and Texas and was looked into for 3 long months before given up as just permanently lost. To this date they have not been found. Odd how something so large can be overlooked or just misplaced. So now we have a new rendition of Boo Boo and Bat Girl. It's on it's way via another carrier.

Thanks for visiting Art by Mary Hughes

Weeds Oil on Canvas by Mary Hughes

2009-07-26T17:32:00.000-04:00

10" x 10" Oil on Canvas: Available

This spring was a cold continuation of our long cold winter. The planting season blurred a great deal and I just didn't plant a flower garden this year. So when a gigantic weed started it's takeover of the little garden spot in front of the porch I was temped as I was every year to bend over and pull it out of the soft sandy ground. It would have been so easy. But several times a day I would go out walking my dog and pass the fast growing monstrosity and keep on walking. I wondered at myself. Was I really this lazy that I wouldn't just do as I had every other time? What was holding me back from plucking it out of the ground and tossing it aside? It grew past my waist and I just didn't care. Yes neighborhood I have a huge ugly weed growing in my garden and I "Mary Hughes" am doing NOTHING about it.

Then one day I noticed buds. They didn't look terribly promising but they caught my curiosity and that would give me another excuse to not pluck the giant green monster. By now you've guessed. Huge beautiful yellow flowers opened up and fill the giant plant. I water it now, cut it's blooms, bring them inside, smile whenever I pass it's abundant beauty. My dog now waters it daily. We all do our part.

What is a weed exactly? A plant we don't want, or have low expectations of. One dictionary definition: "Generally, a weed is a plant in an undesired place."

I hope this weed comes back every year!

For more information or to see more of my work click here.

I'm always available for commissions. Contact me with your request.

Thank you for dropping by Art By Mary Hughes

Scream Rocky Style

2009-08-14T17:05:00.000-04:00

16" x 20 " Oil on Canvas: Commission

My friend Mary (not talking in 3rd person here, it's another Mary) is an avid bird lover and rescuer. She and her husband have taken in many birds and work with bird rescue organizations. Her husband has been known to go rescue baby ducks from a city sewer. They deeply care for birds and go to great lengths to help them when they can. I so very much admire them for their diligence and love.

When Mary came to me with this idea for her husband I was excited. Their parrot Rocky had been on a screaming tangent for some time and she thought this would be a fun painting to have. I just completed it and it's in the drying stages. It will be on it's way to their home very soon. I'm so happy she chose me to carry out her creative idea. It was a very enjoyable painting to do.

You can visit Mary and her family on her blog Parrot Musings. It's a fun blog to read and anyone with birds or not will appreciate the stories. You'll be able to see Rocky and his pals and their antics.

For more information or to see more of my work click here.

I'm always available for commissions. Contact me with your request.

Thank you for dropping by Art By Mary Hughes

Good Friends

2009-07-19T21:34:00.000-04:00

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas: Commission

It's been my honor to paint the special friends of my customers. I feel I really get to know their pets and the owners who love them. It's certainly one of the perks of painting pet portraits. I specialize in close up detailed animal paintings on various sized canvas.

For more information on ordering a pet portrait click here.

My Website

My Blog

I'm always available for commissions. Contact me with your request.

Thank you for dropping by Art By Mary Hughes,

Tea Cup and Floral Oil on Board

2009-07-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

"Tea and Blossoms" 8" x 10" Oil on Board

Purchase with Paypal

I'm always available for commissions. Contact me with your request.

Thank you for visiting Art by Mary Hughes. Come by often!

Latest Pet Portrait

2009-06-20T21:03:00.000-04:00

"Emma" 12" x 12" Oil on Canvas: Commissioned Portrait

What dog lover could say "no" to that face? Cookies please? The royal purple around the edging is her collar color.

Thanks for visiting Art by Mary Hughes

Lizard Love

2009-06-11T19:17:00.001-04:00

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas: Commission

Just finished the two lizard paintings. While focusing on them I've at the same time been watching and feeding a swan family. I'll be posting photos and the story on my Michigan blog. I've decided to try and keep this blog all about art, so I've added two blogs to my list. One is on living in Michigan and the other one is written by my dog when I'm not looking. He's a real chatty Cathy.

I'm working on a new still life on an artists' board. I'm liking the process so far. They say the colors are brighter on a panel and it is nice and smooth. Hope to have it finished very soon.

Thanks for visiting Art by Mary Hughes

Brownie Cheesecake!! For Real This Time!!

2009-05-27T16:51:00.000-04:00

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas: Available Click Here

I applaud all the artists out there that can paint desserts and not eat them. I'm not one of them. I'm not proud of that fact nor am I apologetic. At this point in my life I ask "what am I waiting for?" The hope that cream cheese in heaven won't be fattening? Please!!

So I went double good. Brownie Cheesecake. Yeppers!! Brownie crust that fills in almost halfway into the middle then a nice cheesecake filling. Added chocolate swirled on top. All that's missing is .... there is nothing missing.

It was tasty.

I immortalized it on it's Blue Willow plate. A blue milk glass with the plate as reflection fills out the corner.

The ugly stage

2009-05-26T21:55:00.000-04:00

I'm working on a lizard project for a nice friend of mine. The lizards are rather shy and interestingly so is the painting. What I mean by that is I'm having a small challenge getting the painting to reveal itself to me. They are sitting in their ugly stage at the moment drying and giving me some time to think about the next move. They look a bit like hand puppets at the moment. Though it might not look like it, I do have a direction.

I find some comfort I guess in a first layer, or second layer that isn't so refined. It's what I call the ugly stage. I lay down the deepest or near deepest color I think is underneath all the highlighted detail, be it feathers or fur, or scales. Sometimes it takes 4- 5 sessions before I get to the top layer of highlights and dazzle. Sometimes it takes just a few. When I get to the last passes it's surpising how quickly it all comes together. I think it's because painting the ugly layer gives me a sort of confidence. It's all up from there? I can't quite explain it but I find comfort in picking up a dry "ugly layer" and building beauty on top.

Dogs and Newborns

2009-05-20T22:32:00.000-04:00

Spring has had such a difficult time getting a toe hold here that to realize summer is just weeks away is almost a shock, but our 80 something day today helped bring that idea home!

I've had the pleasure over the past few weeks and months to paint some sweet puppy faces. These are a couple of them.

While out on a stroll around the grounds this evening with my own puppy I spied a Mourning Dove high in our pine tree deep in the shadows. I thought she might have a nest there so I went to get my camera thinking she'd be there when I got back. Her sillouette was so beautiful with the sun slanting behind her. When I returned she had taken off but I found this little egg shell low in the branches and decided it would make an interesing photo.

As I walked along peering into other dense fir trees I spotted a robin sitting with her back to me low in a dense evergreen. She spotted me at the same time and flew off leaving a babe behind. So I took a photo with a zoom and quickly left so mom would return fast. This baby doesn't have much to keep him warm just yet.

As I came up on my front porch, mommy was in a tree nearby letting it be known she was not a happy camper. So I took a photo of her too peering behind the lilacs. I went inside and things got quiet right away and all is well. Last winter I found many abandoned nests in these dense bushes I'd not noticed in the summer. So many little eyes peering out at us as we go out into the yard.

Keeping Secrets

2009-05-15T16:15:00.000-04:00

I'd LOVE to be able to unveil all the work I've been doing but they're all Birthday presents for customers! So, I shall wait.

I've been watching many of the birds that have come back to our area to play and start families. We've had an Oriole come to the hummingbird feeder at the window on a regular basis. He seems confused as to how to get into it and tries to sip from the tiny flower shaped feeder. I think he actually gets some. He's magnificent to see close up at our window, and I hope to get a feeder for him soon, so he'll be taken care of at our house.

We've also had several families of Geese. It's interesting to watch how the babies relate to each other and their parents. On one occasion all the little ones swam to the shore and hopped out of the water. They were not being chased or influenced by the parents seemingly. They parents were just sitting in the water, but they must have given them direction somehow. The little ones mimic the parents too by bathing when the parents bath. They're so cute splashing around in the water. As the little ones all decided to head back into the water one shy guy seemed to be having trouble deciding to get back in. He stood on the shore, dipping his head in to take a drink but held his position as his brothers and sisters started to swim off. They hadn't gotten two feet away when they all turned around and swam back to him, facing him in a half circle. They seemed to be encouraging him to come along and finally he did. How did they relate that message? Body language? Or do geese and goslings have a language of goose voice?

Be sure and check out the sky from the vantage point of others around the world by clicking on the emblem below! Happy SkyWatch Friday!!

Beautiful Night and Day

2009-05-09T00:08:00.001-04:00

Last nights sunset and today's spectacular light and clouds are my offering this week for skywatch friday.

Be sure and check out the sky from the vantage point of others around the world by clicking on the emblem below! Happy SkyWatch Friday!!

New Print: Sun Conure

2009-05-06T13:50:00.000-04:00

Sun Conure ACEO print, available on Etsy. Just click on the photo to take you there!

Cheesecake and Dogs

2009-05-05T18:31:00.000-04:00

My latest ACEO offering on Etsy. Just click on the picture to go to the sale!

Did you REALLY think this would be about cheesecake and dogs?? (those are two paintings I'm working on. One of a dog, and one of some cheesecake. Coming soon!)

Chasing Chickens

2009-05-02T23:13:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it right off the bat, I'm weird! When I see turkeys, chickens, baby geese, or a fox cross the road I become giddy and must take pictures!! All those wonderful creatures crossed my path the past few days and I found them fascinating! Not to mention all the horses, Shetland ponies and newborn cows. The countryside is teeming with beautiful wildlife right now.

These missies were crossing the road yesterday in front of us. Why did the chicken cross the road? They don't tell.

Our first newborn geese of the season on the lake. Six tiny ones bobbing in the very rocky waves today. The wind was fierce but mom and dad had them swimming and watched over them very carefully.

My husband and I were working in our garage today and a bluebird flew in, said hello and flew back out, then we were joined by a hummingbird. It's Disneyland in Michigan this week!

Be sure and stop by my Etsy store and see my latest ACEO print, Dusky Conure.